Michigan Jazz Trail connects more than 1,000 people in region

Published 9:30 am, Friday, July 8, 2011

Photo providedPeople gather behind The H Hotel to watch high school students and professionals perform at the 2011 Michigan Jazz Trail Festival.

Photo providedPeople gather behind The H Hotel to watch high school students and professionals perform at the 2011 Michigan Jazz Trail Festival.

Photo: Edit1

Michigan Jazz Trail connects more than 1,000 people in region

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The second annual Michigan Jazz Trail Festival brought together people of the Great Lakes Bay Region for a weekend of music. During the festival, which took place the last week in June, more than 1,000 people went out to Bay City, Saginaw and Midland to listen to the local artists and professional performers.

“This year’s festival was a wonderful success,” said Molly McFadden, founder of the event and owner of Molly’s Bistro. “It was a fantastic opportunity to have the communities work together and for people to get to know each other.”

Not only did the jazz festival connect local communities, it also “created a venue for people to visit the region,” McFadden said. “We want people to think of the Great Lakes Bay area as a vacation destination.”

McFadden said one of the highlights was having local high school students perform and work with the professionals. “Renowned jazz guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli was astounded by the talent we have in the area,” McFadden said. “He said the students have such a high level of knowledge and sophistication.”

More than 110 high school students performed throughout the weekend. According to McFadden, one group of students, the Voices of Jazz, got together just so they could perform during the festival.

Next year, McFadden hopes to build on the framework of the event to draw more attendees. She said she wants to have a jazz clinic before the event so people can work toward their performance. In addition, she hopes to collaborate with high schools early in the process so students can plan to perform at the festival.

Those who would like to stay updated about plans and find information for next year’s festival can visit www.michiganjazztrail.org